Hiya Hiya Mike, It's your ginger cousin. Sounds like you're having such a good time!!!I'm well jealous! Enjoying reading your blogs, its an excellent excuse for me to aviod revision so cheers for that. Thanks for the postcards too. Good to see you're up to date with footy. I went to see Blackburn v Chelsea on Tuesday(don't know why cos i support pool!) and Blackburn actually won! Thats about the most exciting thing that i've done in a while, dusn't really compare with what you've been up to! Keep having fun. Take care, Joanne x
Is Beadle about? Now then Michael. Just thought I'd commend you on this crackin' piece of infotainment; loving the original blend of local history, travel diary and study of the football allegiances of our South-East Asian brothers. Well done on saving the local female population from Andy's attentions by the way!
About this beard of yours. It's totally understandable to go a bit native when you're on a round-the-world voyage of discovery. That's fine. But if you should start hanging around with Australian travellers who just like to "chill out" and discussing who was the first to discover Jack Johnson, I should say, oy, Michael, nooooooooo.
Anyway, that aside, keep living it up and furnishing us with your insights!
Malaysian interest Hey Mike, loving your work! Been reading this for a while, to get another side to Will's travelling adventure. There's a girl at my work from Malaysia, she was actually born in Melaka, so she's been really interested to read your thoughts about the place. Sounds like you're all having a great time... tell Will to step his blog up a notch, you've been putting him to shame!
Divesy (one of E.C's mates that came to visit him up at Sheffield)
Thanks! I must take this chance to thank you for broadcasting those very sensitive secrets to the world, in my defence to whomever maybe reading this - i was very very.... very drunk, and the club wasnt exactly lit with bright midday sunshine at the time.
And as much as it pains me to say it i doubt very much if Robbie will ever know about your heart felt wishes.
Anyway, take care!
Looking good Like the beard smudger, just need the longer highlighted hair and you'll be in the place i am. Getting loads of different celebrity names fired at you.(Most recently osbourne has compared me to a young johnny depp.)
Sounds like your having a great time and really enjoying reading your journals keep them coming.
John
Thai Shorts You have got to post a photo of you in thai shorts. Only stopped laughing now. The sea-canoe trip is by a man named John Gray Sea Canoes (probably a bit expensive for you cheap skates though - approx. £30/day, including lunch) well worth it though. Sounds as though the snorkelling was a good day out. Surprised you didn't go to see the Lady Boys Show, if I remember that was in Phuket, although most bars have their own version!!! Enjoy Ko Phi Phi. Look forward to the photos.
Love MamX
PS: Thanks for the lovely flowers and handmade card for mothers day (it's a good job you have a sister).
Kata Beach Lovely photos with this entry Mike. If you get the chance at Phuket, go further along the coast to Kata Beach (that's where me and dad stayed a couple of year back) at Orchidacea Hotel, lovely beach and nice bars (have you tried Daiquiri's yet?). An absolute must, the best drink you'll ever have, but don't let the fruit flavour fool you!!!! Look forward to the next episode.
MamX
Sneek Oh my god. I wish i could of been there when Will was being hassled by the street kids. The filthy sneek. I'm glad somebody finally called him on it - Good Banter. What's all this about large Budda statutes resembling me. I'll have you know i've been in training at t gym improving my already awsome physique for when we're sunbathin in Oz.
Late Post Ok my lad? Only just got your postcard from Laos yesterday!! (Took a month to arrive). Looks wonderful, but think I'll stick to my automatic washing machine as opposed to the river to do the washing........never had it so good eh???? The weatherman last night said you were in for a scorcher today, so plenty of sun block, we won't be needing it here in Wigton, as we've had snow last week (but we have got the hang of this fire now and it's lovely and warm in here, believe it or not). Drinking out of buckets with straws (well I never, who do you take after??). Let us know where your heading when you get the chance Mike and enjoy every minute. Love you loads. MamXXX
Good banter Hey lads, enjoying reading about your exploits but very jealous i'm not able to be along as well.
Also its good to see that even on the other side of world you guys still have time to fit in tbone/cocknose banter.
Don't suppose you saw liverpool vs arsenal? Cracking through ball from stevie g to set up thiery (apparently signaling his desire to move to the capital so watch this space!)
Don't go catching anything at that beach party ;-) and remember what happend to leo di cap when he went to one......
Spelling Hiya Mike - your spelling is a bit hurried at times!!! The correct spelling is: Khmer Rouge, makes you feel so insignificant thinking one man could snuff out so many lives. Glad your history background is coming into play - I'm finding your website very interesting (especially some of the comments!!!!). Take care son, all my love, MamXXX
Writing to reach you What can i say boys. Your exploits so far have left me gob smacked. In fact i've been so impressed that i'm coming out to experience this wild adventure for myself (if you'll have me of course). Just the small matter of some crappy exams in may/june then i'll see you in Aussie somewhere. Six weeks of adventure and fun (it's not 10 months but it'll do). Picked up some brochures on the land of Oz today! Everyone good back here. Me and Gaz doin Flares tonite. The Cookemeister and BB are "re-establishing connections". Keep up the banter and i'll see you in summer (or winter as it is over there... brrr pack up your jumpers).
Awreet! Mornin! Awreet smudger, sounds like you're having an awesome time,did you get up to much with the dutch girls?!lol! Have a good one marra.
p.s. Are you missing jonny b?
Checking it out Hi There,
Your Mum put me onto your site and have ejoyed checking it out so far. Look forward to future episodes. Best of luck and enjoy the trip.Had a few late night meals throughout that region in the past myself and wondered about the meat. Four legged chicken was the usual description.
Hey smithy ! looks like your living the champagne lifestyle out there! i'm well jealous! loving a piece of your diaries! even better than those Red Shoe Diairies on Channel 5! you'll be pleased to hear cooke is up to his old tricks getting arrested losing his teeth and trying it on with big bad donna! wish i could find a McD in laos then i would be straight out ! asta la vista
Cheekos
An Aussie Welcome G'day Mick! The question is not 'Is Oz ready for Smudge' but more likely 'Is Smudge ready for Oz? The Aussie branch of your family are waiting here with baited breath for your arrival. The VB is already in the esky. OOps, were you trying to keep it secret that you might have connections downunder!! A word of warning about those Kiwis...don't believe anything they tell you about us...and always double check the bungie rope...Just call cooee when you're heading towards Melbourne and we will make sure you have a memorable visit that will certainly include a real game of footy, Aussie Rules!!!
Well it sounds like you're having a brill time, and I'm extremely jealous of you. Hope you're having a good day and your sunburn isn't bothering you too much. Speak to you soon.
you have found your niche in life hi smudge, have we found the job for you!!! you should be a roving travel reporter. your descriptions and details make us feel like were there with you, and you still remember to put funny quips in !! nice to hear about you all getting sunburnt when we are basically freezing here at the moment. glad you liked the man u tribute (they'll do anything to attract new supporters) we'll miss your wit when the england games start, have already bought the flags and bunting. well take care as we have to now venture out against the elements to go shopping!!! (oh the exciting lives we lead) x x x
Blog of the Moment Hi Smudge. you're the blog of the moment at About Dot Com's Asia for Visitors site http://goasia.about.com. Keep blogging; we're watching you... Greg
Good Banter I thought it was just the Cookemeister that specialised in riding elephants? Honestly you boys are getting up to some crazy crazy stuff. Loved the banter with Will downing the giant tiger and also the pair of serpents. Lmfao. Things pretty dull gull here. Had some nice weather but it snowed a bit today - exciting stuff :(. Urgh i'm so bored. I want to be wondering through jungles and talking with insightful monks with you boys. Tell Jonny his webpage pales in comparison with yours Smith. Also when is the serpent gonna get his up and runnning? Well as a great man once said "i've got a meeting with my exectutioner so i best be-heading off". Love ya sprigsy. Dan
Work, Work and more Work Sounds pretty amazing Mike. Hope you didn't see any of the nasty things in the jungle....I certainly would have thought twice about going. I suppose when you come back home, it will be rice and noodles with everything from now on eh? We were wondering if you'd heard the Liverpool score, but I am surprised you didn't gate crash and get to watch it live, that must have taken a lot of doing.
Enjoy yourselves in Laos. Speak to you soon.
Love Mam
I canny believes it!!! Just a quick massarge cause i've got a lecture any minute now. Love the website. I can't believe you 3 are wondering around Thailand - i'm so jealous! Keep the pics coming. G force and Nose big fans of the site too. Cue gaz saying "Ko Sahn Road" in the style of "Park Ge Sung" every five minutes ;).
p.s. Jonny got shat on by a bird - Lmfao. It could only happen to O'grotcha.
Tubs
Ladies, Gentlemen, Kings and Vagabonds, welcome to my travel website! On 7th february 2006 my voyage of self discovery begins, over the next 8 months i shall hopefully be visiting: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and California.
I'll try and keep you posted of my adventures/misadventures over the next few months, although this is dependent on whether i can actually be bothered to find a computer and write all my escapades down!
I'm a novice at this diary lark but i'm sure that when i get into the swing of things it'l be a work of litera... full info
Joanne
non-member comment
Hiya
Hiya Mike, It's your ginger cousin. Sounds like you're having such a good time!!!I'm well jealous! Enjoying reading your blogs, its an excellent excuse for me to aviod revision so cheers for that. Thanks for the postcards too. Good to see you're up to date with footy. I went to see Blackburn v Chelsea on Tuesday(don't know why cos i support pool!) and Blackburn actually won! Thats about the most exciting thing that i've done in a while, dusn't really compare with what you've been up to! Keep having fun. Take care, Joanne x